Recycling in the Workplace

Recycling in the workplace can save a business money and also make for a happier team. It’s just as important as recycling at home because nearly half the waste generated in the U.S. happens at businesses and other non-residential locations.

Below are just a few of many steps you can take to reduce waste in the workplace:

Replace disposable cups with reusable mugs and glasses. If an employee has one beverage a day, switching to a reusable mug or glass can save more than 200 cups from being thrown away per person each year.

Purchase only 100 percent recycled paper and as many other recycled or green office supplies as possible. Even better, implement policies to reduce overall paper usage. The NRDC’s Green Your Office offers resources for making this happen. Through simple changes like defaulting to double-sided printing and reusing scrap paper, one EPA office cut paper usage by 30 percent, saving $49,000 a year.

Get your business off of mailing lists. To request removal from Dun & Bradstreet’s huge list, call 1-800-234-3867 or send an email to customerservice@dnb.com.

Host a Friday File Fling. Have office workers purge file boxes and folders to recycle unneeded documents. In Australia, one day each November is dedicated to file flinging, but you may choose to host your event any time of the year.

Use prompt cards to encourage positive behavior in the workplace. Try using these friendly reminders to get employees to turn their computers off at night. Download free prompts from Recycle Reminders or order free stickers from Universal Eco-Symbol.

Is your workplace part of the food and restaurant industry? Save money and food at the same time. Get connected with charities you can donate unwanted food to via Waste No Food, Food Cowboy or Full Harvest. Simplify the process with a platform such as Spoiler Alert, which helps maximize the ROI of food donation and recovery programs, or the app Copia, which streamlines everything from requesting surplus food pickups to tracking tax deductions.

If you want to go beyond recycling to achieve a green and sustainable workplace, you can receive national and local government incentives. Find out more from the Department of Energy and dsireusa.org. If your workplace partners with Staples, take advantage of their sustainably-minded resources, such as recycling programs and eco-friendly office supplies and furniture.

Share informational and motivational infographics such as this with others in your workplace: